| Mr Neville Campbell founded The Caledonian Club in 1891 as a proprietary Club, based in Charles 11 Street, SW1. The Club moved to Derby House, St James’s Square in 1912. On the death of its owner, Mr Robertson Lawson, in April 1917, Members formed a Members’ Club under the energetic leadership of the Marquis of Tullibardine. He appealed to Members to make it the representative national club and headquarters for Scotsmen in London, and the Club was formally set up within a few months. It may still be fairly said to have achieved and maintained its first Chairman’s aims. Today we have a complete cross-section of professions; you are just as likely to meet professional sportsmen or Ambassadors at the Club, and all three services are still represented.
Halkin Street opened on 17th October 1946 and is named after Halkin Castle, Flintshire, a seat of the Grosvenor family, Dukes of Westminster. Hugh Morrison, for whom this house was built, was a politician, first returned to parliament in 1918, and a wealthy landowner. Number 9 was the last mansion house of its kind to be built in London.
The Club has 39 fine bedrooms, all with en-suite facilities, warmly furnished in traditional style. High-speed Internet access is available in all bedrooms for the business traveller. A terrace garden, furnished with many generous gifts of furniture and indigenous Scottish plants, was added in May 1994.  In 2006 a new four-storey wing was officially opened by HM The Queen, accompanied by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. In addition to those private rooms in the original part of the Club, the new wing compromises a number of meeting and function rooms including the Johnnie Walker Room which can accommodate up to 180 diners, Library, Card Room and meeting rooms, larger Ladies’ Drawing Room and secretariat, and more bedrooms, which now total 39. Members enjoy excellent food, sourced from top quality Scottish suppliers in the Member's Dining Room, and the Members’ Bar offers a choice of almost 200 whiskies. A variety of Club Societies have been established for Members’ enjoyment. Golfing Society events are held at prestigious courses throughout the UK, including Loch Lomond, Archerfield, The Berkshire and Woking. Golfers enjoy an annual visit to France, usually Le Touquet.
The Racing Society .JPG) owns one horse at present 'Strathcal'. Members may buy shares in a syndicate or become supporters: they have the opportunity to attend races using Owners’ and Trainers’ facilities and syndicate members are kept up-to-date with progress by means of a regular newsletter. The AGM and Annual Dinner is an opportunity for Members to hear from the trainer on their horse’s progress. The Number 9 Society has proved to be very popular with Members and guests. On the first Tuesday of each month, a well-known speaker is invited to talk after lunch at the Club. Past speakers have included a number of politicians, the Prime Minister, sports personalities, captains of industry and Ambassadors. The Bridge Society meets informally on Mondays, sometimes playing against other Clubs.
A growing number of keen amateurs make up the Snooker Society, which also meets informally as well as playing in an annual competition against other London Clubs. The Shooting and Fishing Society hosts numerous events throughout the country, including a highly sociable competition against the New Club, Edinburgh.
The combination of the recent acquisition of a magnificent Bösendorfer piano, together with flawless performances by world-class young musicians make for an unmissable series of events in spring and autumn organised by the Music Society.
Reciprocal arrangements exist with four clubs in Scotland and five in London, but the network is worldwide and Caledonian Club Members find a welcome in some fifty esteemed clubs including The Hong Kong Club, The Hurlingham Club of Argentina, The Royal Bachelors’ Club Gothenburg, and The Australian Club. The minimum degree of Scottishness required of a candidate for membership is the possession of at least one Scottish grandparent, or to have served, in the opinion of the Committee “in an important capacity in the public service of Scotland”. And the Club’s greatest asset? When you have introduced yourself to the staff they are sure to be ready with a warm welcome on your return.
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